8/8/2019 Homecoming Waste

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Environmental Studies

Homecoming and Traditions that Promote Wastefulness (100 pts)

Due: Turn in a group lab report to School Loop DROP BOX by 10/15.

Observation: Throughout human history, we humans have developed many interesting traditions and practices

such as human sacrifice, running with the bulls of Pamplona, body piercing, just to name a few. Most of these

activities require tremendous amounts of resources. Christmas is the ultimate example. To celebrate the birth ofa single human being, people spend billions of dollars to buy gifts that are packaged and wrapped in various

single use materials, then most of those gifts and packaging end up in the garbage. Did you know that old

growth forests are cut down to make toilet paper? During Halloween, millions of tons of pumpkins are grown,

transported, and decorated for a single use and then they are discarded. Our schools are no exception. In fact wetend to promote such wastefulness by holding on to outdated traditions that perpetuate the cradle to grave

culture. Each week, cheerleaders create huge paper run throughs then quickly stuff the torn shreds into the

garbage can. High school students all over our country build elaborate structures known as floats to celebrate acertain football game called Homecoming.

Question: Why do we do this? How much do we use just to build the floats? Are these justifiable uses of

valuable resources? Can we depart from such senseless and outdated traditions?

Purpose: Analyze the impact of resource use for Homecoming float building. Quantify the types and amount of

material used to make and display the homecoming floats. Evaluate whether or not this is a worthwhile use of

materials. Propose alternatives.

Background:

1. What is a float?

2. What are the rules to float building?3. What materials can and cannot be used?

4. How are the floats transported?

5. What else is important background?

Suggested Materials: digital camera, measuring tape, scale

Procedures:

1. Organize yourself into small teams of 3-4 students.2. Coordinate with your team to create a plan to achieve the purpose stated above and create a PowerPoint

presentation.3. Hatch the plan and record your procedures.

Results: Document your findings. Take pictures and collect data. Organize data into a data table.

Analysis:

1. Calculate quantities and graph your results.2. Distinguish between the types of materials and their uses on the float.

3. From where do these materials originate and how do they get here?

4. What will happen to these materials after Homecoming? Be very specific.

Conclusion:

1. Restate the purpose of this experiment.

2. Compare the purpose to the results. Summarize your findings?3. Appraise and amend the current float rules to be more sustainable.

4. Propose an alternative tradition that promotes sustainability not waste.

Presentation: presentation of findings on the night of 10/15.